1. Source for this Publication

The texts quoted in Level 3 are directly sourced from the Opinion on "Antibiotic Resistance Effects of Biocides" produced in 2009 by the SCENIHR (Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks) of the European Commission.

Levels 1 & 2 were written by Dr. Marisa Fernandez in collaboration with the GreenFacts editorial team and DG Health and Consumers of the European Commission.

This publication is produced by GreenFacts under a contract from DG Health and Consumers of the European Commission.

The Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) is one of three independent non-food scientific committees that advise the European Commission on matters of consumer safety, public health and the environment.

The committee was set up in 2004 to provide the European Commission with scientific advice on emerging and newly identified risks. SCENIHR addresses broad, complex or multidisciplinary issues requiring a comprehensive assessment of risks to consumer safety or public health. It also answers questions on related issues not covered by other community risk-assessment bodies.

4. Specific questions asked by the European Commission to the SCENIHR

Does current scientific evidence indicate that the use of certain active substances in biocidal products in various settings as mentioned above can contribute to the occurrence of antibiotic resistant bacteria, both in humans and in the environment? If so, how does this effect compare to resistance due to application of medicinal products or veterinary medicinal products and other relevant applications? [The SCENIHR is in particular asked to consider the possible risk that exposure to biocides or active substances in biocidal products may favour the emergence or selection of cross resistance mechanisms (in bacterial species) that may decrease the efficacy of antibiotic molecules during therapy.]

If yes, which types of active substances, modes of action or areas of application create the highest risks for increasing antibiotic resistance?

If yes, what are the extent of the resulting antibiotic resistance and the relative contribution of the different applications to the risk of increasing antibiotic resistance?

How can the development of antibiotic resistance due to the use of active substances in biocidal products be examined? Could the Committee advise on the methodologies?

Please identify relevant gaps in scientific knowledge and suggest major research needs.

Evaluating the safety of chemicals most often requires the use of tests on animals. However, there is a strong push towards the use of alternative methods. What are these alternatives and are they effective?